On September 17, 2025, South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal annulled a government permit that allowed Eskom to construct a large natural gas power plant in Richards Bay. The court ruled that proper public consultation had not been conducted prior to the permit’s issuance.
The planned 3,000 MW plant is part of the government’s strategy to enhance electricity generation capacity amid ongoing blackouts and to transition away from coal dependency. The court’s judgment stated, “The effect of this order is that the authorisation is a nullity,” indicating that Eskom must submit a new application for authorization after fulfilling the required public participation process.
This ruling aligns with previous decisions against energy companies that failed to adequately consult local communities when seeking permits for oil and gas exploration off South Africa’s coast. The Richards Bay area is also set to host South Africa’s first liquefied natural gas import terminal.
Environmental groups that challenged the authorization welcomed the court’s decision. Desmond D’Sa from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, one of the applicants in the case, remarked, “Eskom for too long as a state company has gotten away with injustices, and people living near its facilities will suffer from the high levels of pollution.”
Spokespeople for both Eskom and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment did not provide immediate comments following the court’s ruling.